Cabinet approves converting of NPPTI into an autonomous agency

New Delhi, July 24 : The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to converting the National Plant Protection Training Institute (NPPTI) in Hyderabad into an autonomous agency, namely the National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPM), by registering it under the Registration of Societies Act, 1860.

It also approved the funding of the full recurring and non-recurring costs of the Institute for ten years, by which time the institute will be self-sufficient and provide plan assistance to the tune of Rs.29.40 crore during the 11th Five Year Plan.

The registration of the NIPM as a Society will enable its autonomous functioning and effective capacity building in the sector.

To meet the emerging training needs and in order to function as a center of excellence in support of the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage or Department of Agriculture and Cooperation in the matters of bilateral or multilateral negotiations on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) matters, plant protection activities and providing training capability to private sector and farmers, it has been proposed that NPPTI should take the form of an autonomous body by the name "National Institute for Plant Health Management".

It would function as a policy support center in all SPS matters and also to create adequate capacity, both in public and private sectors, to meet the growing challenges of non-tariff barriers in the form of SPS issues and also protecting the country's agro-ecosystem from alien pests and diseases.

ANI